Electric switch.



H. E. SARGENT.

. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLIOATIGN'FILBD MAR.19,'1900. RENEWED DBO. 23, 1901.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

,Jnventor: Howaml RSaIgent Witnesses .Fig. 2

unrrntn s'rn'rns PATENT orrrcn HOWARD R. SARGENT, GF- SCHENECTADY; NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELEG- TBIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF YORK.

ELECTR C SWITCH.

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hownizn It. SARGENT,

a citizen of the United" States, residing at" against movement. and the contact maker" is released by further movement of the actuator, whereat the spring suddenly moves the contact. maker.

Figure 1 is a section of a switch embody ing my invention, together with its casing; is a plan of the switch on the base with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the moving parts of the switch; Fig. l is a perspective view of a retaining piece; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the switch movement.

In its simplest form this switch comprises only two noving parts, which perform in a novel and most simple manner the required function. These partsare 'the actuating spindle A, and'the contact'carrier or cam C, a ltlical spring S being interposed be tween them, and tending to force the carrier positively parallel to the axis oi'the spindle. The contact-carrier C, as its name implies, not only moves the switch contacts, but supports them.

Normally, the lower projection Q, on the carrier C, engages with one of the projec-l tions r of the retainer R, which is fixed as shown in a suitable manner in the switch casing, and the projection)? on the spindle A bears against the cam surface H, and shoulder 1, of the carrier C. When the spindle A is rotated clockwise, the projection- P proceeds in the direction of the arrow away from the shoulder 1 and along thecam surface H, thereby lifting the carrier C to compress the spring S, and then removmg the projection Q from engagement w th the projection r of the retainer-R. At this time the spring S will tend to force the cam downward into its former 'POSltlOIl, and owing t0 the sharp incline of the cam-sur face H, and independently ofany tendency to force the carrier Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 17, 1911, Auplication filed March 19, 1900, Serial No. 9,208. Renewed December 23, 1901.

Serial No. 86,980.

it may have to rotate the carrier, it will in' fact, force the carrier G back longitudinally and parallel to the axis of the spindle A.

But the projection 1? has been moved to a" new position by the spindle A, and hence the springv S cannot force the carrier G hack to its former position, but this projection I" will deflect the carrier C in an angular direction, and the lower projection Q, on the carrier C will finally come to rest against the next succeeding projection?" of'the retainer R, and the shoulder 1 will'again abut against the projection .on the spindle. This action would take place if the spring S were so mounted that it would tend to move the carrier C downward butthe'most convenient manner of securing the lower end of the spring is to anchor it to the proand thusthe spring will tend Cto rotate as well as to force it downward. This rotary action assists the cam-surface H in forcing the carrier to the lower advance position.

The contact piece 2 has a perforation through which the projection Q, extends, and the spring S bears upon the upper part of the contact piece to keep it 'in position upon the carrier'C. The projections Qf and- Q are preferably the ends of a single .pin which is passed through the carrier C. The spring S is of such a length that it will not permit the projection P to be carried in a complete rotation to reengage with the cction Q shoulder 1, before the projection Q has been removed from the projection 1" of the retainer IL The same movement maybe embodied in a double-pole switch without essential modification, as will be clear to I those skilled in theart.

In the case-of the single pole switch shown, the contact carrier might be made in one piece'with the contact piece 2, but it is preferable for convenience in manufacture that they be made independently.

In Figs. 3 and 5, the turns of the spring S appear close together owing to the fact that they are shown in perspective, but these turns are in fact separated from each other in their relaxed positions, as may be seen in Fig. 1.

The modification shown in Fig. stintially the same as that shownin the other figures. The difference is in the construction of the contact carrier G. This of manufacture, the carrier C- is formed of 11, shown in Fig. l, is slipped in the outspindle A'from moving vertically.

- portion of thecarrier to effect axial move- 7 from the retainer, whereat the cam portion spindle and having a cam formation, a rea downwardly extending projection Q as. in

eting or pinning to flared portions 4 of the ,movable cont-act loosely mounted on the carrier has a cam slot H in which the projection P plays, the upper edge of the slot serving-the same purpose as the cam surface H shown in Fig; 3, and the lower edge of the slot serving to prevent the carrier U from moving upwardly, so that the projecplay freely over the lower surface of the carrier C, thus causing the quick action of the switch to be lost. In order to reduce the cost a metal. punching, the ends of which are secured together by rivets 3, andwhich have Fig. 3. The contact piece 2 is secured to the carrier 0 in a suitable manner, as by r-ivcarrier. The handle 5by which the spindle A can be rotated is screwed to the end of the spin- (lle and'rests upon a suitable cover 6, which is supported -upon an insulating base 7. Supported on thebase are the binding posts 8, to which thecircuit connections are made, and which are electrically connected with the contact 9 with which the contact piece 2 engages. The lower end of the spindle A is cut as shown at 10 in Fig. 3, and a clip beneath the insulating base 7, to prevent the What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Pat'ent of the United States, is,

1. An electric switch which comprises movable and stationary contacts, an actuating spindle, a supporting carrier for the spindle and having a cam formation, a retainer, a spring which tends to force the carrier longitudinally along the spindle, and a projection on the spindle which upon -rotation of the latter moves along-the cam 'inent thereof, thereby putting the spring under tension and removing the carrier permits. the spring to force the carrier back along the spindle, and the projection on the spindle guides the carrier to' a partial rotation about the spindleuntil it reengages the retainer. I

2. An electric switch which comprisesmovable and stationary contacts, an actuating spindle, a supporting carrier for the movable contact loosely mounted on the tainer, a spring which tends to force the carrier axially along and angularlyabout the spindle, and a projection on the spindle which upon, rotation of the spindle moves along the cam portion of the carrier to move 1 the latter axially, thereby putting the spring under tcnsipn; and removing the carrier from the retainer,,whereat the cam portion I permits the spring to force the carrier back i axially of the spindle'an'd the projection on' the spindle cooperates with the spring to force the carrier to partially rotate about rectly back axiallyof the spindle, andthe projection causes the carrier-to move angularly until it engages an advance portion of the retainer.

4. An electric switch which comprises movable'a'nd stationary contacts, an actuating spindle having carrier guiding means, a retainer,' a spring which'is put under tension by the spindle, a supporting carrier for the movable contact having an inclined op- .erating surface, and a projection on the car rier to which one end of the spring is fixed,

. the contact carrier beinghoadapted to. be rey the spindle and moved from the "etainer then forced back axially an'd angularly on the spindle by the spring and guided by the spindleto .partially rotate about the spindle until the carrier, engages with an advance portion of the retainer. v

5. An electric switch which comprises an actuating spindle having carrier guiding means, a retainerja spring which is put under tension by the spindle, a contact car rier having, means whereby it is removed from the retainer. by the spindle, and is then forced directly back. axial-1y of the spindle by thespring and is guided by the spindle to move an ularly until the car-rier engages with an advance portion of the retainer, and a contact piece which is rotated by thecarrier.

6. An electric switch which comprises movable and stationarycontacts, an actu-" at ng spindle havlng carrier guiding means,

a retainer, a cam carrying the movable 'con-,

tact and loosely mounted on the spindle which is lifted by the guiding. means from the retainer axiallyof the spindle when the latter is rotated, and a coiled spring 50- cured to the spindle which forces the cam to move back angularly of the spindle to engage with an tainer. j

7. An electric switch which comprises stationary and movable contacts, an actuating spindle, a stationary retainer, a supporting carrier for the movable contaet. a spring, and a pin and cam connection between the spindle and carrier whereby, when .the spindle is rotated,'the carrier is moved a'xiallv of the spindle out of engagementviththe advance portion of the re retainer, whereat the spring forces the carand a coiled spring secured to the spindle which forces the cam to move back along the spindle and. by means of the projection to be angularly guided into engagement with,

an advance portion of the retainer.

1 9. An electric switch which comprises movable and stationary contacts, an actuating spindle,a cam supporting.saidmovable contact and loosely mounted on the spindle, a stationary retainer, a pro ection on the cam which normally engages the retainer, a pro ection on thespin'dle which engages the cam to move the latter axially of the spindle, and a coiled spring secured to the spindle which forces the cam-to move angularly toward the retainer.

10. An electric switch which comprises movable and stationary contacts, an actuat- "i'ng' spindle, a retainer, a springwhich is put ii 1 ca'ri'ier t'or the movable contact provided "with a cam slo and a projection 011 the spindle which engages said slot to move the carrier axially of the spindle and out of engagement with the retainer, wliereat the prin torces the carrier back anmilarly oi er tension by the spindle, a supporting the spindle to engage an advance portion of the retainer. I

11. An electric switch which comprisesmovable and stationary contacts, an actuating spindle having 'a projection, a retainer, a springwhich is put under tension by the spindle; and a vsupporting carrier for the movable contact formed of a metal punchingf and having means whereby it is removed from the retainer by operation of the spindle pro ection thereon and then forced by the spring directly back axiallyof the spindle and'angularly thei'eonuntil' 'it engages with an advance portion of the retainer.

12. An electric switch which comprises movable and stationary contacts, an actuating spindle having a projection, a retainer,

a spring which is put under tension by said spindle, and a supporting carrier for the movable contact having a camsurface for engaging said spindle projection and formed of a metal punching with an integral projection, which projection normally engages with said retainer and is removed therefrom by the operation of the spindle projection along said cam surface, whereat the carrier is then, forced back axially of the spindle by the spring and guided by the spindle projection to partially rotate about the spindle until the integral projection on the carrier reengages' with the retainer.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of,March, 1899.

j HOWARD R. 'SARGEXT.

V/itnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, JosrPH Gross. 

